(Part 3) Top products from r/autism

How do you teach you self different disciplines? Any tips/methods? I'm attempting something similar with math and programming.


Anyway, about autism...


Like people said, learn about aspergers/autism. I recommend reading look me in the eye, its a fascinating autobiography of a man with aspergers. http://www.amazon.com/Look-Me-Eye-Life-Aspergers/dp/0307395987

And look for books that describe behaviors of people with aspergers, read about how they live. Having aspergers is not a disease or a disorder, its a atypical neurology. It can be a impediment and a advantage. There are a LOT of resources for people with autism, you just have to find them. Is your diagnose a official diagnose? If you can get accommodations at work, this is worth reading --> http://askjan.org/media/asperger.html


Also I hear Temple Grandin (famous woman aspie) has some good books on having aspergers, check your local library.


You should talk to your therapist about your depression and thoughts of suicide. A lot of aspies have struggled with depression. Humans are social creatures, and having poor social skills can make it hard to connect with other people. A pet like a cat or dog can be a good friend if you have few friends, or even just need somebody to hug. If your having suicidal/depression related thoughts you should really talk to your therapist, they may be able to give you strategies to deal with them. I would not suggest meds, it works for some people, but it should be a last resort.

Make sure your getting enough sleep, you need 8 hours of sleep a night, try and wake and fall asleep at the same times every day. The human body likes routine. Diet and excicise are also very important, if your eating shitty unnutritional food, your body will respond accordingly. Try and buy fresh food every week, find your local farmers market, grow your own, fresh food is good!

You need at least an hour of intense physical activity a day. I recommend cardio (increasing your heart rate, something where you run around) and lifting weights. Stretching is also important, but the other 2 are more important.

If you want I can send you some lists (info pictures) on exercise and healthy food.

Do you get stressed a lot? Its common for aspies. Learning to meditate, or yoga a few times a week can help reduce your stress. Or just taking a 40 minutes out of each day to have some time to yourself. Sit in front of a window or in a quiet park and do some deep breathing. Let your mind clear, lift the fog and confusion of stress and bulllshit away. And let ocean waves of calmness and cool water wash over your mind and body.

Speaking of water, drink more of it! Not drinking enough water through out the day can cause you to feel crappy. (We all really do need 8 glasses a day!)

That's all I can think of for now, even you want to chat feel free to pm me.

Edit: Forgot to mention I've struggled with depression myself, and regular exercise has helped me feel better. The "runners high" I get after a nice sweaty run is a refeshing feeling, the "happy buzz" I get after working out for 40 minutes. I still get depressed, but I have more energy when I exert myself regularly.

I have a problem with things like "Good Morning" because my brain just kinda says "Yes, it is" and it would be silly to say that every time someone said something that made sense to me. Most of the time i remember it's a salutation but it's caused some misunderstandings and yelled greetings. The song "Good Mornin' to You" from Singin' in the Rain helps me remember it's something directed at me. I would try "Good Morning to you!" I had to start with "I bid you a good morning." The first time i heard "What's up?" at 14 i responded with "Not a whole lot, what is it that is up with you?" Also, my age mates and i couldn't understand each other until about 3rd-4th grade. Their speech sounded like jibberish to me and i sounded like stereo/ikea furniture instructions to them. Keep practicing with and building confidence in her and with the other supports you mentioned i think you'll be pleasantly surprised. You mentioned her singing a lot, that's awesome! If it weren't for band and choir i probably would have gotten a lot less social/conversation practice. I'm not college educated but i think the part of your brain that processes the intervals in between musical notes is the same part that processes language. On top of that, a lot of conversational English is used in songs. As she gets older and more listening options become appropriate it'll be a good form for learning informal speech.

On the eating thing, as i am told my dad had to step in. Mom was overthinking everything and worrying herself sick and Dad had to say "Calm down, when she's hungry, she'll eat." Having the food i didn't like near me while eating a food i liked helped me get over some stuff, although i am admittedly very picky now. The Sneaky Chef and Deceptively Delicious are good ways to start "sneaking" other veggies in. For example if she hates cauliflower i think one of those sources has a mac 'n' cheese recipe that uses it. I would make it for her one day, let her enjoy it. Ask if next time she wants to help make it. I thought i hated cabbage until i learned how to make egg rolls a couple years ago. If she likes pickles pickling things can be fairly easy. This is a Harvard lecture about fermentation and pickling (about 30-40 mins in they get to the pickling.) Maybe you two can make a hobby out of pickling new things and then trying them? I know it's not the best but my parents always knew their Hail Mary was to just batter it, fry it, and let me dip it in ketchup. When i was around 7 letting me add a drop or two of food coloring to a food i knew kinda made me more adventurous. If this tasty thing can look gross and still be tasty, maybe things that look gross can be tasty, too.

I don't have children, myself, so i am admittedly a bit ignorant on the bathroom thing. If i'm not mistaken i think the "Do you know why Mommy, Daddy, and Big Sis wear different underwear?" approach worked. I know i had bed wetting problems until 3rd-4th grade. If i get stressed out or really anxious i pee myself sometimes, still. I won't have to go badly i'll just start peeing the second i walk into a bathroom. Sometimes i don't notice i have to go until it's near critical. Normally not a big deal but if you're in a group of people you can look crazy shouting for a bathroom when we just passed one not 15 mins ago... When i was little i was afraid to be myself. That kept me out of the bathroom a lot, knowing i had to be alone in there. I tried to keep the door open so i could still hear other people. If i couldn't do that i would just be super fast. People actually comment often about how quick i "get my business" done. I don't know how to tell them it was totally cultivated by fear. I would try asking her is there is any reason she doesn't like the bathroom before it even comes up. You'll probably have to repeat to her that she's not in trouble. If i thought that at all i freaked out. Maybe a handheld mp3 player or walkie talkie. With a walkie talkie you're not just going poo, you're a secret agent evacuating prisoners and reporting back to headquarters! Receive the order to cease operations and clean up. I also had a Raggedy Ann doll that i took in there with me. It's just a doll but a buddy helped.

When i got discouraged my dad would remind me "Some people are gonna be faster, some people are gonna be slower. In some things you will be faster, in some things you will be slower. It's just a part of life. It's nothing to be ashamed of." He he, i freaking love my dad.

I would suggest going to other graphic novels once he's gotten fluent with magna. There are lots of really good graphic novels for elementary school kids. Here is a good list. I highly recommend the Bone Series. I have them myself and I love them.

I am a special ed teacher and I'm just thinking of his future, does he have a hard time with any specific reading problems in class? (Like comprehension, decoding, etc?) I just want to give you some resources to ask for in his IEP meetings in the future to help him in school.

What about a book? Good-bye Tonsils There are a few other books related to this one on Amazon.

I don't really have any suggestions other than this, but hopefully someone else can offer help. Good luck!

A good read would be The Reason I Jump it's a great book written by young adult with autism who tries to explain autism from their own perspective. It was very insightful in helping me understand the motivation behind so many behaviors. Too often well-meaning therapists will try to address all behaviors which are different as something to be addressed when many serve a purpose and are harmless and should just be left alone.

I've been meaning to share this book here on this sub. It was co written by a family friend that's been an advocate for those with autism for as long as I've known her so like 20+ years. It's been out a while. Feel free to check it out.Quirky, Yes---Hopeless, No: Practical Tips to Help Your Child with Asperger's Syndrome Be More Socially Accepted https://www.amazon.com/dp/031255849X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_vJNyzb0NGQJHW

Two great starter books:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Nature-Autism-Aspergers-Disorder/dp/1843108143

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Autism-Very-Short-Introduction-Introductions/dp/0199207569

Both of these books are fairly historical but go through many of the steps that led to where we are today.

I've got a few hundred books now and these two are what I'd recommend as the starting point for someone interested in recapping autism research from the beginning. This history is important because it provides some hints as to why genes/brain differences are so elusive.

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When I was younger I had a book called Amazing Mazes (or something like that at any rate) that was just filled with mazes (unsurprisingly), except they were all works of art showing people travelling through these surreal landscapes made up entirely of labyrinths.

It was a good book.

Edit: Found it on Amazon. Goodbye weekend.

I read this book called What Every Body is saying and I found it useful. I hope it can help you too.

https://www.amazon.ca/What-Every-BODY-Saying-Speed-Reading/dp/0061438294

I think it was probably this one by Dr. mate: http://www.amazon.com/Scattered-Attention-Deficit-Disorder-Originates/dp/0452279631. I didn't really agree with everything Dr. Mate said, but it was still very interesting. His theory is that we're all victims of stress or something like that. I think stress is relevant, but I'm not sure it's the root cause really the way he thinks. I'm pretty sure though that he is the one who really emphasized how sensitive we are. I also watched some videos by him. Another very short, interesting read is an article about "orchid children" I read somewhere .... it's based on some studies that suggest that we have genes that make us unusually vulnerable to our environment, which in a way is kind of similar to what Dr. Mate is saying (but is much more scientific). I've also read some stuff by Ned Hallowell and Russell Barkley. I am fairly certain Dr. Barkley does NOT emphasize the "sensitive" nature thing, but Dr. Hallowell might have.

Are you still looking for some books. I had another think. My son (who is autistic) likes to read through this every now and again

How To Do Just About Everything (Ehow) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0007172303/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Xc4JxbDZ4HWMC

There is also:
How to do More of Just About Everything https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0007315139/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_if4JxbZ5CRQBM

They are not written specifically for autists but seem to be very helpful.
They have step by step instructions for all different situations from dating to applying for a loan.
Don't know if that is what you had in mind, just thought I'd suggest it.

Overcoming Autism: Finding the Answers, Strategies, and Hope That Can Transform a Child's Life
http://www.amazon.com/Overcoming-Autism-Finding-Strategies-Transform/dp/0143034685

You might want to try some books on pooping in the potty, not just vague "I'm a big kid and I use the potty" books, specifically ones that talk about pooping. These two are both really great for getting kids to poop on the potty. If you can't find a book that works, I'd suggest making a social story.

https://www.amazon.com/Cant-Wont-No-Way-Children/dp/1466453737/

https://www.amazon.com/Wheres-Poop-Julie-Markes/dp/0060530898/

As you said, it doesn't sound like bowel control is an issue, and since she's been peeing for a year it sounds like the toilet itself isn't a problem either. You could also try bribing her with stickers or toys, but I babysat for a woman who did this with her kid and he started pooping just a tiny bit at a time and demanding a toy after every little deposit.

I had a terrible time with neurotypical teachers, specifically with physical teaching. It has to do with lacking mirror neurons(aka dyspraxia). When an NT learns, they can see someone do it and automagically derive the method to do it themselves. Not so for dyspraxics. We have to plan every move and maybe do it dozens of times to learn it. One of the best teachers I had was a concise book on Tai Chi. Check it out, it will show you exactly what is required to teach dyspraxics. https://www.amazon.com/Tai-Chi-Ten-Minutes-Health/dp/091636030X

Yes, sorry I wasn't more specific :)

Aspergirls, Rudy Simone, https://www.amazon.com/Aspergirls-Empowering-Females-Asperger-Syndrome-dp-B07T8CBDN1/dp/B07T8CBDN1/ref=mt_audio_download?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=

He's not just any old person: he's John Elder Robison, writer of a number of bestselling books about living with Autism (Be Different, Look Me in the Eye). He wrote a book about this experience too, which is coming out soon.

Switched On: A Memoir of Brain Change and Emotional Awakening

Here is a link to a Special Ed. Law textbook to get you started in the meantime though: https://www.amazon.com/Special-Education-Pearson-Loose-Leaf-Version/dp/0133399850/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1495505890&sr=1-5&keywords=special+education+law. It costs 67.16-70.84 dollars ($67.16-70.84) for the loose leaf version. You might need a 1 inch ring binder to put it in.

Edit: The exact dollar amounts being put in.

I was reading far above my grade level so I'm just using the internet age ranges for these books.

The Island series

39 Clues

Warriors Series

Send in the Idiots

Doesn't his school provide the ABA as part of his FAPE? It seems when my son was younger, he had his own classroom aide-and she spent a lot of time with him in what I suppose was basically incidental ABA. We just made it part of our regular time with him.

The first book I read about autism after his diagnosis happened to be Let Me Hear Your Voice and it had an appendix which helped a lot in working with my son using ABA

But we also may've been broke enough to qualify-3 kids, one job, and he receives SSI.